Charlton sign Di Canio

Charlton have made an audacious swoop by signing Paolo di Canio on a one year deal.

The talented but temperamental Italian was released by West Ham at the end of last season and has been linked with a move to The Valley for several days.

He passed a medical this afternoon and will join up straight away with his team-mates to be in contention for a place in the starting line-up against Manchester City on Sunday in their Premiership opener.

The 35-year-old striker left the Hammers under a cloud after he fell out with manager Glenn Roeder. Only today he continued to criticise the West Ham boss saying he had "no personality" and was responsible for the club's relegation because he would not play him.

Following Roeder's illness, Di Canio was recalled to the team by stand-in manager Trevor Brooking, but although he scored a memorable winner in the last home game of the season against Chelsea he could not prevent the club from going down.

He has previously played for AC Milan, Lazio, Celtic and Sheffield Wednesday. Other than his spectacular goals and skills he is most famous for his legendary outbursts, most notably when he pushed referee Paul Alcock while playing for Wednesday for which he received a 12 match ban from the Football Association.

It was thought that di Canio would finish his career in Italy after he was training with Italian Fourth Division side AC Savoia.

But this latest twist in his career will prove a challenge to Charlton manager Alan Curbishley by adding the Italian's experience to a relatively young forward line.